ATHENS, Sept 26, 2008 (AFP) - Greece's Council of State voted Friday to back a law which will legalise cremation, despite fierce opposition from the dominant Orthodox Church.

The approval of the Council of State, which is at the same time, an administrative organ and the Supreme Administrative Court, means the order will now become law.

The proposals will set the rules for all cremations, which will be carried out by local authorities, a judicial source said.

Cremations will be allowed on presentation of a written declaration of the deceased or at the request of close family members, the Greek press agency ANA reported.

If the parents cannot disagree or the family contests the deceased's wishes, a prosecutor will be appointed to settle the dispute.

The Greek parliament adopted an amendment in 2006 authorising 'the cremation of Greek citizens or foreigners whose religious convictions allow it.'

The draft approved by the Council of State makes no reference to religion in the text, ANA said.

Secularists and local authorities pushed for a change to the law. The Orthodox Church, separate from the state yet highly influential in Greece, had forbidden cremation for many years.